LANSING – State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) voted in favor of the "Hire Michigan First" plan, which rewards companies that employ 100 percent Michigan workers with state economic development incentives. The aggressive job-creation plan also cracks down on companies that hire undocumented workers by creating penalties that include requiring them to pay back their state incentives and barring them from future state contracts. The plan now heads to the Senate.
"Our families are being hit hard in these tough economic times," McDowell said. "This plan protects the workers in our state by ensuring they are considered first for good-paying jobs. With Michigan's unemployment rate in the double-digits, it's vital we start making changes like this to turn our economy around."
The "Hire Michigan First" plan:
- Rewards companies that hire the most Michigan residents in the pursuit of state tax breaks and other economic development incentives. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and certain state-funded programs, including the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and the Renaissance Zone Act.
- Encourages transparency and accountability by requiring companies that accept incentives to report on who they hire to ensure that Michigan residents are put first.
- Cracks down on companies that hire undocumented workers by creating penalties that include requiring them to pay back their tax incentives and barring them from future state contracts.
"No more of our jobs should be lost to workers from other states and countries," McDowell said. "Michigan has the best workers right here. Businesses that get state tax incentives shouldn't look anywhere else other than Michigan when it comes time to hire. I urge the Senate to move quickly to pass this plan."